WEBVTT 1 00:00:28.440 --> 00:00:34.840 Welcome to the Great Detectives of Old Time Radio from Boise, Idaho. 2 00:00:35.600 --> 00:00:38.920 This is your host, Adam Brahm. In a moment, we're 3 00:00:38.920 --> 00:00:43.679 going to bring you this week's episode of dragnapp. But 4 00:00:43.799 --> 00:00:47.240 first I want to encourage you. If you're enjoying the podcast, 5 00:00:47.280 --> 00:00:52.719 please follow us using your favorite podcast software. Today's program 6 00:00:52.920 --> 00:00:55.039 is brought you a part by the financial support of 7 00:00:55.079 --> 00:00:58.880 our listeners. You can become one of our ongoing Patreon 8 00:00:58.920 --> 00:01:01.960 supporters for as little last two dollars per month at 9 00:01:02.039 --> 00:01:08.560 Patreon dot Great Detectives dot net. Now we have the 10 00:01:08.599 --> 00:01:15.000 first of many casting changes in terms of Joe Friday's partner. 11 00:01:15.319 --> 00:01:19.760 This is a decision that played out on radio, but 12 00:01:20.000 --> 00:01:25.439 really had its root in the television program Ed Jacobs 13 00:01:25.519 --> 00:01:30.480 was meant primarily as a stop get and the network 14 00:01:30.760 --> 00:01:35.959 really thought that Barney Phillips looked too much like Jack Webb, 15 00:01:36.799 --> 00:01:40.439 and throughout Dragging its first season, they tried a lot 16 00:01:40.480 --> 00:01:44.680 of things in order to make this less apparent. They 17 00:01:44.840 --> 00:01:51.480 use glasses, they dyed Barney Phillips hair, and they also 18 00:01:52.000 --> 00:01:56.519 for one episode gave him this amazing leather rain jacket, 19 00:01:56.719 --> 00:02:00.640 which I really wish had gotten more airtime. Yeah, if 20 00:02:00.680 --> 00:02:03.280 they had to. They could just say it was raining 21 00:02:03.319 --> 00:02:06.640 all the time in Los Angeles, but apparently they were 22 00:02:06.680 --> 00:02:10.919 not satisfied, and so they began the search for a 23 00:02:11.000 --> 00:02:15.360 permanent partner. This mostly doesn't play out very much on TV, 24 00:02:15.960 --> 00:02:20.960 as Barney Phillips would play at Jacobs throughout the entirety 25 00:02:21.000 --> 00:02:24.319 of the first season, and then in the second season 26 00:02:24.759 --> 00:02:27.879 it wouldn't be long before Ben Alexander would take over 27 00:02:27.919 --> 00:02:31.680 as Frank Smith. But over radio it was different, and 28 00:02:31.719 --> 00:02:35.759 they tried a few different things. This may have been 29 00:02:36.240 --> 00:02:39.759 the best idea they had, and if it had worked, 30 00:02:39.800 --> 00:02:43.199 it would have been a big shift in the series. 31 00:02:43.360 --> 00:02:49.759 The new partner, unlike Friday's other partners, was a younger man, 32 00:02:50.319 --> 00:02:53.759 and so was the actor who played him, Martin Milner, 33 00:02:54.080 --> 00:02:57.400 who had just turned twenty one and would go on 34 00:02:57.599 --> 00:03:03.159 to success on television, most notably in Route sixty six 35 00:03:03.599 --> 00:03:08.039 and then later for Web again in Adam twelve. Now 36 00:03:08.080 --> 00:03:16.680 from April seventeenth, nineteen fifty two, Here is the Big Bunco. 37 00:03:21.719 --> 00:03:24.560 The story you were about to hear is true. The 38 00:03:24.680 --> 00:03:35.520 names have been changed to protect the innocence. You're a 39 00:03:35.560 --> 00:03:40.400 detective sergeant. You're assigned the Bunco detail. An experienced confidence. 40 00:03:40.439 --> 00:03:42.400 Man is set up up. From his first two victims, 41 00:03:42.400 --> 00:03:45.360 he gets more than eight thousand dollars. You've got one 42 00:03:45.360 --> 00:03:48.639 good lead on the suspect, his method of operation, Your 43 00:03:48.759 --> 00:04:00.280 job get him. 44 00:04:00.360 --> 00:04:04.039 Drag Met the documented drama of an actual crime. All 45 00:04:04.080 --> 00:04:06.840 the next thirty minutes, in cooperation with the Los Angeles 46 00:04:06.840 --> 00:04:09.680 Police Department, you will travel step by step on the 47 00:04:09.680 --> 00:04:12.280 side of the law through an actual case transcribed from 48 00:04:12.280 --> 00:04:16.759 official police files, from beginning to end, from crime to punishment. 49 00:04:17.160 --> 00:04:19.759 Drag Net is the story of your police force and action. 50 00:04:24.720 --> 00:04:27.519 It was Tuesday, December ninth. It was Wendy in Los Angeles. 51 00:04:27.600 --> 00:04:29.519 We were working the day watch out of Bunco Detail. 52 00:04:29.680 --> 00:04:32.319 My partner's said Jacob's the bosses Captain Steve. My name 53 00:04:32.399 --> 00:04:34.399 is Friday. I was on the way into the office 54 00:04:34.399 --> 00:04:35.920 and it was seven p fifty am when I got 55 00:04:35.920 --> 00:04:41.480 your room, thirty eight Bunco detail. All right, Joe, All right, Charlie, 56 00:04:41.600 --> 00:04:43.279 how'd you make out yesterday? Nothing? 57 00:04:43.560 --> 00:04:43.959 The luck? 58 00:04:44.000 --> 00:04:44.240 It all? 59 00:04:44.639 --> 00:04:47.639 Nothing's going to help with my same description on the guy, 60 00:04:47.800 --> 00:04:50.160 he used the same name, Samemo. Didn't get anything we 61 00:04:50.160 --> 00:04:52.439 don't already know about him. How about you? 62 00:04:52.439 --> 00:04:52.759 You're luck? 63 00:04:52.759 --> 00:04:54.839 Anybody ooh, about the same. 64 00:04:55.079 --> 00:04:57.199 Checked out the building with a suspect, rented office space, 65 00:04:57.240 --> 00:04:59.879 he moved out three days ago. No forwarding address. Check 66 00:05:00.079 --> 00:05:02.160 the hotel he was supposed to be stopping at didn't pan. 67 00:05:02.040 --> 00:05:04.480 Out, didn't time. Let's take his neck out again. Now, 68 00:05:04.519 --> 00:05:07.160 it doesn't guarantee we'll reach him too late to start. 69 00:05:07.160 --> 00:05:08.720 When the complaints come in, we're gonna have to take 70 00:05:08.759 --> 00:05:10.519 up a faster way of getting to him. 71 00:05:10.519 --> 00:05:17.120 Hey, you gott imagine? Yeah, sure, yeah, thanks. 72 00:05:17.560 --> 00:05:19.839 Oh, by the way, I just heard about your partner 73 00:05:20.360 --> 00:05:21.800 at Jacob's understand. 74 00:05:21.399 --> 00:05:24.439 You're losing Oh yeah, temporarily anyway to do well. He's 75 00:05:24.480 --> 00:05:26.000 going on a loan out up at the academy. It's 76 00:05:26.000 --> 00:05:27.759 going to be an instructor up there. Two months anyway, 77 00:05:27.800 --> 00:05:30.800 maybe more. When does this happen tomorrow? For tenth What. 78 00:05:30.720 --> 00:05:32.040 Are you gonna do for a partner? You and Ken' 79 00:05:32.079 --> 00:05:32.639 gonna work again? 80 00:05:32.800 --> 00:05:35.040 No, the Captain's bringing in the new man. Young fellow's 81 00:05:35.079 --> 00:05:36.240 been working in the business office. 82 00:05:36.519 --> 00:05:38.560 I mean the big Irish kid works the early morning. 83 00:05:38.600 --> 00:05:41.120 No, No, this boy's been working days names Bill Lockwood. 84 00:05:41.319 --> 00:05:42.600 I asked for him so as I found I was 85 00:05:42.639 --> 00:05:44.639 going to lose it. You know well a little bit. 86 00:05:44.720 --> 00:05:47.800 Yeah you remember Ben ro Meryl. Yeah, sure, well Lockwood's 87 00:05:47.800 --> 00:05:50.279 a nephew of Ben's sister's boy tall right here. 88 00:05:50.480 --> 00:05:51.959 Oh yeah, I've seen him round it seems to be 89 00:05:52.000 --> 00:05:54.160 a nice new kid and a good record hit or 90 00:05:54.199 --> 00:05:54.879 the captain thinks. 91 00:05:54.879 --> 00:05:56.360 So figures he got to work in pretty well. 92 00:05:56.399 --> 00:05:58.160 And by the way, have you seen Ben's wife? 93 00:05:58.160 --> 00:06:00.360 Wait? Yeah, I did a couple of weeks ago. Seems 94 00:06:00.360 --> 00:06:02.639 to be doing all right still missus Ben, of course. 95 00:06:02.759 --> 00:06:02.920 Yeah. 96 00:06:02.920 --> 00:06:05.720 I imagine the little boys shirt getting big. Looks a 97 00:06:05.759 --> 00:06:09.639 lot like his dad too, miss him quite a bit yourself. Yeah, Charlie, 98 00:06:09.680 --> 00:06:12.319 I guess I do. Well, I'm better get on my horse. 99 00:06:12.519 --> 00:06:14.480 You get some check in to do. Now op the lock. 100 00:06:14.519 --> 00:06:16.160 When boy works out for you, Well, I think you'll 101 00:06:16.199 --> 00:06:18.240 do all right, And say I'd be crazy about the 102 00:06:18.279 --> 00:06:21.439 idea myself behind me breaking in a new man, no 103 00:06:21.560 --> 00:06:23.839 detective experience, I go out. 104 00:06:23.720 --> 00:06:24.439 To pick up a thief. 105 00:06:24.480 --> 00:06:26.600 I like to figure I've got some good backing. I mean, 106 00:06:26.639 --> 00:06:28.639 I'm a partner. I'm used to it. It's tough enough 107 00:06:28.680 --> 00:06:30.800 watching out for yourself, let alone at green youngster. 108 00:06:30.920 --> 00:06:32.639 Well, somebody had to do it for us. That's the 109 00:06:32.639 --> 00:06:35.240 way it goes. Yeah, I remember when I first studied. 110 00:06:35.600 --> 00:06:37.879 It didn't come much greener in me. Partner did all 111 00:06:37.920 --> 00:06:40.839 the work, took all the chances, helped me every further way. 112 00:06:40.920 --> 00:06:41.879 You never mentioned it once. 113 00:06:42.759 --> 00:06:44.480 I never forgot that it's a good cop. 114 00:06:44.759 --> 00:06:46.240 What was his name? Ben Romo. 115 00:06:55.040 --> 00:06:57.879 In a particular setup, before a man's eligible to apply 116 00:06:57.959 --> 00:07:00.160 for duty and the detective girl, he has to have 117 00:07:00.199 --> 00:07:02.879 a minimum or five years experience as a police officer, 118 00:07:03.120 --> 00:07:06.240 either assigned to radio patrol, traffic duty, or some other 119 00:07:06.279 --> 00:07:10.199 general assignment. After the initial five years of service, the 120 00:07:10.240 --> 00:07:13.120 men go through a screening process to determine which department 121 00:07:13.199 --> 00:07:15.720 of which job they'll put and do best some positions 122 00:07:15.720 --> 00:07:18.759 that they seem to show a natural aptitude corps. If 123 00:07:18.800 --> 00:07:20.480 a man applies for duty and a division of the 124 00:07:20.519 --> 00:07:23.839 Detective Bureau, and if he's accepted, he's assigned a partner 125 00:07:23.879 --> 00:07:25.560 to work with the day he goes on the job, 126 00:07:25.839 --> 00:07:29.319 generally a working detective with some experience. In the case 127 00:07:29.360 --> 00:07:32.319 of Ben's nephew, Bill Lockwood, he put in his first 128 00:07:32.360 --> 00:07:35.600 five years working wheelshair traffic and also doing radio patrol 129 00:07:35.639 --> 00:07:38.839 in Holland beck in seventy seven street divisions. After spending 130 00:07:38.839 --> 00:07:41.759 another eleven months in our business office. Captain Steed put 131 00:07:41.800 --> 00:07:44.800 in a request for him and he was transferred. When 132 00:07:44.800 --> 00:07:46.480 I heard ed Jacobs was going to be loaned to 133 00:07:46.519 --> 00:07:49.079 the Police Academy as an instructor, I talked to Captain 134 00:07:49.120 --> 00:07:51.920 Steed about Lockwood and he assigned him as my new partner. 135 00:07:52.920 --> 00:07:54.560 The changeover happened in the middle of one of the 136 00:07:54.560 --> 00:07:57.720 toughest investigations we'd had in months, a bunco artist who 137 00:07:57.720 --> 00:08:01.800 was working hard at the Business Opportunities Racket. The following morning, 138 00:08:01.800 --> 00:08:04.360 December tenth, Bill Lockwood reported in for work. When we 139 00:08:04.439 --> 00:08:06.600 grow about to check a potential lead on the suspect 140 00:08:07.000 --> 00:08:09.519 on the way I laid out the case for him. 141 00:08:09.639 --> 00:08:11.199 Nothing on the men in r and I huh, no 142 00:08:11.279 --> 00:08:12.839 record at all. No, no, as far as me know, 143 00:08:12.959 --> 00:08:15.920 Bill check Brett up at Sacramento CII nothing doing there. 144 00:08:15.920 --> 00:08:17.680 He couldn't help it. And what have you been growing on? 145 00:08:17.759 --> 00:08:20.160 His description? Yeah? That and his mo and his name. 146 00:08:20.439 --> 00:08:23.079 He uses a different alias on each job. Russell Pressed 147 00:08:23.120 --> 00:08:24.279 and that was the last name in Youth. 148 00:08:24.519 --> 00:08:25.120 I see. 149 00:08:25.519 --> 00:08:27.519 He usually starts by putting a want ad in the paper. 150 00:08:27.560 --> 00:08:28.160 Is that well? 151 00:08:28.160 --> 00:08:30.680 He rents himself an office first, usually pretty expensive when 152 00:08:30.680 --> 00:08:32.960 well furnished. Then he hires a good looking secretary, has 153 00:08:32.960 --> 00:08:34.639 her put a want ad in the daily papers for him, 154 00:08:34.639 --> 00:08:36.279 and he's in business. And how do the ads are? 155 00:08:36.279 --> 00:08:38.679 As usual? Yeah, typical thing you see in the daily paper. 156 00:08:39.480 --> 00:08:42.759 Business opportunity for people with vision, good investment, high profits 157 00:08:42.759 --> 00:08:44.960 applying out, you know. And then he gives his address 158 00:08:44.960 --> 00:08:46.840 and phone numbers. There's nothing clever about it, but people 159 00:08:46.879 --> 00:08:48.720 still go for it. Can give them many replies. 160 00:08:48.759 --> 00:08:49.080 Do you know? 161 00:08:49.519 --> 00:08:51.320 Well, we figured he got between twenty and thirty on 162 00:08:51.320 --> 00:08:53.799 that last daily pulled. Seems all he has to do 163 00:08:53.840 --> 00:08:55.679 is land run victim out of the bunch with enough money, 164 00:08:55.679 --> 00:08:57.679 and he's got it made. Took his first victim here 165 00:08:57.720 --> 00:09:00.159 for five thousand, second one for thirty two hundred. The 166 00:09:00.200 --> 00:09:02.080 Lively women took him for their last dollar. 167 00:09:02.799 --> 00:09:04.440 About the way he sets up the deal with these 168 00:09:04.440 --> 00:09:07.080 different businessmen, Joe, I don't think I got it quite straight, 169 00:09:07.080 --> 00:09:08.759 you know what I mean? Well, I'll say the owner 170 00:09:08.799 --> 00:09:10.799 of that manufacturing plant is Russell Preston. 171 00:09:10.879 --> 00:09:13.759 Lined up, you know, you say. Preston went to the plant. 172 00:09:13.559 --> 00:09:16.360 Introduced himself as a business advisor, told the owner of 173 00:09:16.360 --> 00:09:18.440 the plant he had some people with money to invest. 174 00:09:18.799 --> 00:09:20.240 He convinced the owner who's legitimate. 175 00:09:20.320 --> 00:09:22.639 The other time and Preston had his two victims shown 176 00:09:22.679 --> 00:09:24.519 through the plant and convinced him they ought to invest 177 00:09:24.519 --> 00:09:26.759 their money in the business. You know it's do you 178 00:09:26.799 --> 00:09:28.799 mean to say the plant owners were acting in good faith? 179 00:09:28.840 --> 00:09:31.440 Well, they were all checked out Bill everything about him. 180 00:09:31.639 --> 00:09:34.240 They all have good business reputation. They didn't know any 181 00:09:34.279 --> 00:09:36.639 more about the deal and the victim. They needed more 182 00:09:36.639 --> 00:09:38.600 capital for their business, and they figured this was it. 183 00:09:38.960 --> 00:09:41.279 There's Preston or whatever his name is. Sure must have 184 00:09:41.320 --> 00:09:42.279 a line that won't stop. 185 00:09:42.600 --> 00:09:45.440 It's got everything that goes with it. Nice clothes, well mannered, 186 00:09:45.440 --> 00:09:48.200 good looking. He doesn't try to high pressure. Anybody tells 187 00:09:48.240 --> 00:09:49.799 him if they have confidence in him, he'd be glad 188 00:09:49.840 --> 00:09:51.600 to invest their money if they had it all. He 189 00:09:51.639 --> 00:09:53.879 shows him right through the office. Pretty good pitch. 190 00:09:54.679 --> 00:09:56.399 Once they're sold on him, he's got him over a barrel. 191 00:09:56.399 --> 00:09:57.240 It's about the size of it. 192 00:09:57.320 --> 00:09:59.519 You know, money, there's no record on him. Sure sounds 193 00:09:59.559 --> 00:10:00.720 like he's had a lot of experience. 194 00:10:01.240 --> 00:10:02.840 What are the other names he's used, you remember? 195 00:10:03.120 --> 00:10:05.320 Well, just two of them we know of Russell R. 196 00:10:05.320 --> 00:10:08.679 Preston and George a fairchild. I guess the newspapers have 197 00:10:08.720 --> 00:10:11.159 been checked out. Huh ones he ran on? What ends did? Yeah, 198 00:10:11.279 --> 00:10:13.759 we've all been talked to, all their personal beant notified 199 00:10:13.759 --> 00:10:16.360 to have watch for ads of that type. Be one 200 00:10:16.360 --> 00:10:17.679 way to get a lead on him if he try 201 00:10:17.679 --> 00:10:18.039 it again. 202 00:10:18.480 --> 00:10:20.559 Well, what about the buildings where we rented office space? 203 00:10:20.639 --> 00:10:22.120 Isn't the people their help any Well? 204 00:10:22.159 --> 00:10:25.039 They confirmed his description. We picked up samples of his handwriting. 205 00:10:25.080 --> 00:10:27.720 It's about it. He only rented the officers long enough 206 00:10:27.799 --> 00:10:31.120 to cover his deal about two weeks. See one hundred 207 00:10:31.120 --> 00:10:31.759 block is just built. 208 00:10:31.799 --> 00:10:33.279 And see over there, let's see you. 209 00:10:33.519 --> 00:10:36.440 Yeah, seventeen hundred. We want the next on eighteen eleven. 210 00:10:36.919 --> 00:10:39.240 Who's this woman we're gonna talk to? Vivian Castle? 211 00:10:39.279 --> 00:10:39.639 All right? 212 00:10:39.759 --> 00:10:41.960 Yeah, I'm not sure if she's the right girl or not. 213 00:10:42.600 --> 00:10:44.639 Got the lead from the employment agency. Chance she might 214 00:10:44.679 --> 00:10:46.399 be the girl Preston hired to be a secretary. I 215 00:10:46.399 --> 00:10:49.360 don't know a good parting place up there ahead? 216 00:10:49.399 --> 00:10:50.080 Huh yeah, that's good. 217 00:10:50.279 --> 00:11:01.279 Pull up anywhere along here, it's fine. Two hours down 218 00:11:01.360 --> 00:11:03.759 Joe Real Estate Office, eighteen Elevean. 219 00:11:03.440 --> 00:11:12.519 Sea, Good morning, good morning. 220 00:11:14.159 --> 00:11:14.840 Can I help him? 221 00:11:14.960 --> 00:11:17.080 Police officers? Man? We'd like to talk to him, Miss Castle, 222 00:11:17.159 --> 00:11:17.919 Vivian Castle. 223 00:11:18.159 --> 00:11:19.240 Well, I'm Vivian Castle. 224 00:11:19.320 --> 00:11:22.000 Where's our identification? This is my partner, Officer Lockwood. My 225 00:11:22.080 --> 00:11:22.639 name is Friday. 226 00:11:22.639 --> 00:11:25.559 How do you do? What is it you want? Officer? 227 00:11:25.679 --> 00:11:28.120 We'd like to find out a few known George Fairchild Man. 228 00:11:28.559 --> 00:11:30.360 Fairchild, No, I don't know anyone by that name. 229 00:11:30.639 --> 00:11:32.440 How about a Russell Preston, Miss that I mean. 230 00:11:32.320 --> 00:11:32.879 Anything to you? 231 00:11:33.159 --> 00:11:34.840 Oh? I used to work for mister Preston. 232 00:11:34.919 --> 00:11:36.840 Russell Preston about how long ago was that? 233 00:11:37.559 --> 00:11:38.679 One's a month and a half ago? 234 00:11:39.559 --> 00:11:40.679 Where does he have his offices? 235 00:11:41.080 --> 00:11:43.080 He did have him on South Grand near eight, the 236 00:11:43.159 --> 00:11:44.440 old Bill Montes Harris building. 237 00:11:44.480 --> 00:11:47.080 Would you mind describing mister Preston for ust, ma'am? Just 238 00:11:47.159 --> 00:11:47.879 the general description? 239 00:11:48.159 --> 00:11:51.080 Might he was about forty forty five years old, brown here, 240 00:11:51.120 --> 00:11:53.559 a little gray, nice build, seem to be very nice 241 00:11:53.559 --> 00:11:56.960 man at first, always dressed so nice word dark tousu 242 00:11:57.080 --> 00:11:58.000 seemed to be very nice. 243 00:11:58.240 --> 00:12:00.919 Checks out so far, y'all now telling me what it's about. 244 00:12:01.120 --> 00:12:03.080 Well, we'd like to locate mister Preston man. You only 245 00:12:03.080 --> 00:12:03.919 idea where he is now? 246 00:12:04.200 --> 00:12:06.279 I wish I did. I'd call a State Labor commission. 247 00:12:06.480 --> 00:12:08.240 It seemed like such a nice man. I've never been 248 00:12:08.240 --> 00:12:10.759 so disappointed in my life. What do you mean he 249 00:12:10.799 --> 00:12:13.360 owes me two weeks to pay sixty five dollars a week? 250 00:12:14.120 --> 00:12:16.840 I need's a private secretary. Good jobs aren't hard to 251 00:12:16.840 --> 00:12:18.639 get now either. He can't say he's giving me a 252 00:12:18.639 --> 00:12:21.519 break when he hired And are you from the labor Commissions? 253 00:12:21.639 --> 00:12:23.279 No, ma'am or not? Would you tell us how long 254 00:12:23.360 --> 00:12:24.559 you work for this mister Preston? 255 00:12:25.120 --> 00:12:26.720 Just three weeks? He said, I was going to get 256 00:12:26.720 --> 00:12:29.320 paid every Friday. Give me the money for the first 257 00:12:29.320 --> 00:12:31.840 week and that's all. Kept waiting for my pay, but 258 00:12:31.879 --> 00:12:34.200 he kept putting me off. Last week and a half, 259 00:12:34.240 --> 00:12:35.639 he didn't even show up at the office. I was 260 00:12:35.639 --> 00:12:38.759 there all alone, eight hours a day. The building manager 261 00:12:38.799 --> 00:12:40.440 shut up and told me he was all over. The 262 00:12:40.480 --> 00:12:43.279 person closed the office didn't mean you have the decency 263 00:12:43.279 --> 00:12:45.960 to come in and say thank you goodbry. I just left. 264 00:12:46.200 --> 00:12:48.120 And you have no idea at oh where mister Preston 265 00:12:48.200 --> 00:12:48.519 is now? 266 00:12:48.799 --> 00:12:49.759 No, sir, I wish I did. 267 00:12:50.240 --> 00:12:52.519 Were there any office files, mail files anywhere to get 268 00:12:52.519 --> 00:12:54.000 a possible line on him? 269 00:12:54.000 --> 00:12:55.840 As far as I know, I didn't keep any files 270 00:12:55.879 --> 00:12:57.919 for him, and in fact, I didn't do any work 271 00:12:57.919 --> 00:12:59.720 at all. It's the show piece. I guess that's all 272 00:12:59.720 --> 00:13:02.759 he can't me. Therefore no reason why I shouldn't pay me, though, 273 00:13:03.159 --> 00:13:04.679 Are you sure you're not from the Labor Commission? 274 00:13:04.799 --> 00:13:07.080 Did mister Preston ever? Have you place any want adds 275 00:13:07.080 --> 00:13:08.519 in the daily papers missus Castle? 276 00:13:08.960 --> 00:13:11.120 M Yeah, he did a couple of times ads for 277 00:13:11.200 --> 00:13:13.679 business opportunities. You know, he was in the investment business, 278 00:13:13.679 --> 00:13:14.879 helped people invest in money. 279 00:13:15.039 --> 00:13:17.080 Would you have to know anyone who invested money with him? 280 00:13:17.120 --> 00:13:18.320 I mean, would you know him by name? 281 00:13:18.799 --> 00:13:20.919 No? Not by name. Quite a few people came through 282 00:13:20.919 --> 00:13:22.679 the office. I know a few of them made deals 283 00:13:22.679 --> 00:13:24.840 with mister Preston. I wouldn't remember their names, though. 284 00:13:25.080 --> 00:13:26.639 And you don't know any friends he might have had 285 00:13:26.679 --> 00:13:28.399 in town, any of his business associates. 286 00:13:28.600 --> 00:13:30.279 No, they're not a one. I didn't know he had 287 00:13:30.320 --> 00:13:31.080 any associates. 288 00:13:31.159 --> 00:13:32.720 How about where he was staying in this castle? You 289 00:13:32.759 --> 00:13:33.320 must have known that. 290 00:13:33.799 --> 00:13:35.919 Yeah, the first weeks I was there, I did the 291 00:13:35.960 --> 00:13:37.960 only week I got paid for him. He was staying 292 00:13:37.960 --> 00:13:41.240 at a small hotel on South far The next week though, 293 00:13:41.240 --> 00:13:43.120 I don't know where he went after that, neither just 294 00:13:43.120 --> 00:13:43.519 the hotel. 295 00:13:43.559 --> 00:13:45.919 I asked him, well, during the time you worked for him, man, 296 00:13:46.000 --> 00:13:48.399 did you ever have anything to do with mister Preston socially? 297 00:13:48.440 --> 00:13:49.960 I mean, was it part of your job? You bought 298 00:13:50.000 --> 00:13:52.120 to dinner with him? Things like that? Yeah? 299 00:13:52.120 --> 00:13:53.879 I did once or twice. When he asked him, I 300 00:13:53.919 --> 00:13:56.159 didn't think he was part of my job. So the 301 00:13:56.200 --> 00:13:58.000 Preston didn't mention it either. Once we went out to 302 00:13:58.000 --> 00:14:00.320 dinner just the tourists. Now, the time he went out 303 00:14:00.360 --> 00:14:02.480 with my girlfriend, Norma, I had a terrible kind mister 304 00:14:02.519 --> 00:14:03.279 Preston was awful. 305 00:14:03.519 --> 00:14:04.080 How do you mean? 306 00:14:04.480 --> 00:14:06.720 Well, he thanked too much and was throwing his way around, 307 00:14:06.840 --> 00:14:09.879 you know, the bus, making a play for my girlfriend Norma. 308 00:14:09.879 --> 00:14:13.559 I think he liked her quite a bit. She was embarrassing, though. Look, 309 00:14:13.559 --> 00:14:15.240 would you mind telling me what's the matter. Is mister 310 00:14:15.279 --> 00:14:16.399 Preston in trouble with the police. 311 00:14:16.519 --> 00:14:18.840 Yes, Ma'a'm afraid so she did some people out of 312 00:14:18.879 --> 00:14:20.480 quite a bit of money. It's not the first time. 313 00:14:20.360 --> 00:14:21.720 Either, Hey, what was it? Would you do? 314 00:14:22.000 --> 00:14:24.240 Confidence scheme? Selling interest in the company he had no 315 00:14:24.279 --> 00:14:24.759 connection with? 316 00:14:25.240 --> 00:14:27.559 That is a no limits. I guess it's my own thought. 317 00:14:27.600 --> 00:14:30.480 I shouldn't nun where it's happened before. Well, they hire you, 318 00:14:30.600 --> 00:14:32.480 they give you a beautiful office and I soft chair 319 00:14:32.559 --> 00:14:34.360 to sit on, and never give you any work to do. 320 00:14:34.879 --> 00:14:36.720 Don't have to live to finger. I finally got the j. 321 00:14:37.000 --> 00:14:38.679 Yeah, this is the kind you have to watch out for, 322 00:14:42.440 --> 00:14:45.399 Bill Lockwood and't. I continued questioning the former secretary of 323 00:14:45.519 --> 00:14:48.840 Russell Preston alias George Fairchild, but she was unable to 324 00:14:48.879 --> 00:14:50.559 come up with any kind of a definite lead as 325 00:14:50.600 --> 00:14:53.320 to the suspects. Whereabout We left our card with a 326 00:14:53.360 --> 00:14:55.320 girl and she promised to contact us in the event 327 00:14:55.399 --> 00:14:58.720 she came across any information regarding Preston. For the rest 328 00:14:58.720 --> 00:15:01.000 of the day, we ran down three more possible leads. 329 00:15:01.360 --> 00:15:03.440 They came from an informant, a head waiter in the 330 00:15:03.440 --> 00:15:06.480 second rate nightclub, a small time drifter with an extra grind, 331 00:15:06.679 --> 00:15:08.639 and they all figured they had the right answer where 332 00:15:08.639 --> 00:15:09.399 to find Preston. 333 00:15:10.159 --> 00:15:11.159 We checked out the three. 334 00:15:11.039 --> 00:15:13.720 Locations they gave us a motel out near Santa Monica, 335 00:15:14.039 --> 00:15:17.200 a rooming house in Hollywood, a cocktail lounge, and Highland Park. 336 00:15:17.840 --> 00:15:20.200 Not one of the three paid off. Russell Preston alias 337 00:15:20.200 --> 00:15:22.519 George Fairchild wasn't known at any of the places. Either 338 00:15:22.559 --> 00:15:26.600 by name, dress, or physical description. During the next three weeks, 339 00:15:26.600 --> 00:15:29.720 along with Sergeants Charlie Riblet and Ken Scarce of Bunco Detail, 340 00:15:29.879 --> 00:15:32.039 Bill Lockwood and I ran down every possible lead on 341 00:15:32.120 --> 00:15:35.519 the suspect hotels, the want ed departments of the daily papers, 342 00:15:35.799 --> 00:15:40.279 managers of downtown office buildings, secretarial employment agencies, small businesses, 343 00:15:40.320 --> 00:15:43.879 advertising stock for sale. They got us nothing, despite all 344 00:15:43.919 --> 00:15:46.600 the precautions in all the lake work. On January sixth, 345 00:15:46.720 --> 00:15:48.480 we got a call from a missus Marie Barrett in 346 00:15:48.519 --> 00:15:50.919 the West Lake Park area. She owned and managed the 347 00:15:51.000 --> 00:15:54.279 toy shop just off Wiltshire Boulevard. Bill Lockwood and I 348 00:15:54.360 --> 00:15:55.240 drove out to talk to her. 349 00:15:57.000 --> 00:15:59.120 Yeah, they told me it was the opportunity of a lifetime, 350 00:15:59.120 --> 00:16:01.000 a big opportunity, and I just can't believe it. 351 00:16:01.200 --> 00:16:01.960 I can't understand it. 352 00:16:02.039 --> 00:16:03.879 Why even took me out and showed me the fast tree, 353 00:16:04.159 --> 00:16:06.679 get him the man around the place they're making plastics. 354 00:16:06.399 --> 00:16:07.320 Showed me the whole plant. 355 00:16:07.759 --> 00:16:09.159 Said the plant was out in Glendale. 356 00:16:09.200 --> 00:16:12.159 Now what about It was right along with fan Cananda Road, 357 00:16:12.240 --> 00:16:13.759 maybe a mile or two before you get to the 358 00:16:13.840 --> 00:16:14.279 Air Force. 359 00:16:14.919 --> 00:16:16.039 They showed me to the whole plant. 360 00:16:16.120 --> 00:16:18.200 Who showed your films there owner of. 361 00:16:18.159 --> 00:16:20.799 The place in this, mister Fairchild, a big place making 362 00:16:20.840 --> 00:16:21.919 plastics of all kinds. 363 00:16:22.480 --> 00:16:23.399 There was a new prince. 364 00:16:23.759 --> 00:16:25.879 What was mister Fairchild's first name? Do you remember? 365 00:16:26.120 --> 00:16:28.759 George? George Fairchild an associates. That was the name of 366 00:16:28.799 --> 00:16:30.000 the door of the office when I went up to 367 00:16:30.039 --> 00:16:32.200 see him. Of course, I really didn't have a notion 368 00:16:32.279 --> 00:16:33.120 to invest any money. 369 00:16:33.120 --> 00:16:33.960 When I first went up. 370 00:16:34.000 --> 00:16:35.919 It was a newspaper edge, you know, And I answered 371 00:16:35.960 --> 00:16:37.639 lots of kind of a hobby with me. 372 00:16:37.799 --> 00:16:37.960 Yes. 373 00:16:38.799 --> 00:16:40.679 So when it to see him, and we talked, and 374 00:16:40.840 --> 00:16:42.879 as I say, I wasn't thinking of investing any money, 375 00:16:42.960 --> 00:16:46.080 but mister Fairchild seemed like such a nice man, seemed 376 00:16:46.080 --> 00:16:48.360 to have a good business head on his shoulders. Well 377 00:16:48.759 --> 00:16:50.879 ended up with me putting my whole seatingsoccown into the 378 00:16:50.879 --> 00:16:52.919 plastics plant six thousand. 379 00:16:52.679 --> 00:16:55.440 Four hundred dollars, every tenny of us. I hadn't heard 380 00:16:55.480 --> 00:16:56.559 from mister Fairchild, sink. 381 00:16:56.919 --> 00:16:57.799 I just don't know what to think. 382 00:16:57.879 --> 00:16:59.799 I can't understand it. Do you have any idea where 383 00:16:59.840 --> 00:17:02.840 to contact this Fairchild now? And he address telephone number? 384 00:17:03.039 --> 00:17:05.599 Well, I called his office. It's in the Oxford Exchange building. 385 00:17:06.039 --> 00:17:08.720 There's no answer though they fas is connected. I've been 386 00:17:08.759 --> 00:17:11.000 trying for a week to contact mister Fairchild. I mean, 387 00:17:11.119 --> 00:17:13.160 six thousand and four hundred dollars. I just don't know 388 00:17:13.200 --> 00:17:15.079 what to do. All my savings, I don't know what 389 00:17:15.200 --> 00:17:18.880 to do. M excuse me, please, customer, I can't afford. 390 00:17:18.680 --> 00:17:20.480 It, mister sale. Now, yes, ma'am, you've right ahead. 391 00:17:20.680 --> 00:17:21.799 Hell and you've help that lady. 392 00:17:21.880 --> 00:17:23.480 Please. Looks like he scored again. 393 00:17:23.559 --> 00:17:23.759 Huh. 394 00:17:23.880 --> 00:17:24.599 I wouldn't die it. 395 00:17:25.359 --> 00:17:26.880 She seems to do a fair business here, huh. 396 00:17:27.079 --> 00:17:30.079 I mean after Christmas and all. Yeah, I suppose of 397 00:17:30.160 --> 00:17:31.640 course the women go for it. You hang up a 398 00:17:31.680 --> 00:17:33.400 sales sign. You can't beat them off with a club. 399 00:17:33.680 --> 00:17:35.960 See this gadget here? Pretty clever? 400 00:17:36.119 --> 00:17:39.000 Huh yeah, minister Sherman tank? 401 00:17:39.039 --> 00:17:39.599